Gou Zai created a blessed land in the immortal abode

"Although both the Liu and Zhao families established their clans based on talismans, the two families have different focuses when it comes to talismans."

Li Chengming pondered in his heart:

"With my Qi Refining Level 3 strength, even with the aid of talismans, my chances of winning against evil cultivators are extremely low. I might as well buy a few auxiliary talismans."

"If, unfortunately, you encounter an evil cultivator, you can use a talisman to escape and then hide in your immortal abode."

Li Chengming has a very clear understanding of himself.

He has no magical artifacts, and his only offensive spell is the "Water Serpent Technique." Against evil cultivators who excel at killing, even with talismans, his chances of winning are extremely low.

"The Liu family has the [Swiftness Talisman] and the [Concealment Talisman], which are good choices."

These two talismans are different; the former allows for a quick escape, while the latter can conceal one's aura and prevent detection by spiritual senses.

It can be said to be an essential talisman for home use, travel, murder, arson, and escape.

With his mind made up, Li Chengming turned and headed towards the Liu family's shop.

The main street of the market was much quieter than usual. Although the shops on both sides were still open, most of the shopkeepers were sitting behind their counters dozing off, lacking the enthusiasm they used to have for attracting customers.

Several rogue cultivators were squatting on the street corner, talking in hushed tones. When they saw someone passing by, they immediately stopped talking and looked at Li Chengming warily.

Li Chengming walked past without looking to the side.

The Liu family shop was located on the east side of the market. It was a three-story wooden building with an ebony plaque hanging above the door, bearing the four golden characters "Liu's Talismans".

As Li Chengming pushed open the door, a faint scent of cinnabar wafted towards him.

Behind the counter in the shop sat a man of similar age to Li Chengming, dressed in a gray robe, who was fiddling with several talisman pens.

Hearing the noise, he quickly and warmly went to greet them:

"Fellow Daoist, are you here to buy talismans?"

"How much are the Swift Travel Talisman and the Concealing Qi Talisman?" Li Chengming asked directly, stating his purpose.

The grey-robed monk smiled broadly:

"Fellow Daoist, these two types of talismans have been selling quite well recently, and we only have a few left in the shop. If you'd like one, it'll be half a spirit stone!"

Half a spirit stone?

The price made Li Chengming's eyelids twitch.

He quickly estimated that the price had increased by at least 20% to 30% compared to before.

One piece is half a spirit stone, and two pieces are a full spirit stone.

"Hiss!" Li Chengming gasped.

"You might be able to buy it cheaper from a street vendor, but the quality can't be guaranteed."

"Including the salary from the Kong family, I have enough spirit stones to buy two."

After thinking it over, Li Chengming decided to buy two tickets.

"Give me one Swift Travel Talisman and one Concealing Qi Talisman, please."

"One spirit stone in total."

The gray-robed cultivator stood up and took two wooden boxes from a cabinet behind him. He opened them, revealing a talisman stacked inside each box. He then explained:

"Our talismans are made from the finest spirit wood, and the cinnabar is boiled with the blood of demon beasts; both are of the highest quality."

"Fellow Daoist, you won't lose money if you buy it."

Li Chengming looked down at it; the talisman's patterns were clear and smooth, its spiritual light restrained, and its quality was indeed quite good.

He then took out a spirit stone, handed it over, took the wooden box, and left.

…………

night.

The moon hangs above the willow tips.

"boom!"

A pavilion suddenly collapsed, the flames illuminating half the night sky, and the violent commotion echoed throughout every corner of the market.

Li Chengming, who was hiding in the immortal abode, also sensed the movement.

"What's that noise!"

Li Chengming suddenly opened his eyes, sat up from the futon, and in the next instant left the immortal mansion, appearing on the roof.

He looked toward the center of the town and saw flames shooting into the sky, with several figures standing in mid-air.

Li Chengming recognized three of the figures as the three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators from the Kong family.

The other two were dressed in black robes, their faces obscured, making it impossible to discern their identities.

"Is it an unorthodox practice?"

"Zhao Qianjing, quickly activate the formation!"

Kong Shaofeng's solemn voice echoed in the air above the market.

A moment later, a thin film-like barrier gradually appeared, and crimson flames and azure arcs of electricity enveloped the entire Moon Lake Market.

The rogue cultivators in the monastery were horrified when they witnessed this.

Someone exclaimed in surprise, "The grand formation! The grand formation of the market has been activated!"

"Are they going to seal off the market? Wouldn't that leave us trapped like fish in a barrel?"

"Get out of here quickly!"

Chaos spread rapidly through the market. Some independent cultivators who lived near the docks hurriedly jumped onto the large ships, trying to escape before the great formation was fully closed.

However, that thin film-like barrier completely enveloped the entire Moon Lake City, even sealing off the underwater parts with a layer of pale blue spiritual light.

Several large ships crashed into the barrier, only to be bounced back by a resilient force, causing the cultivators on board to fall into the water in a sorry state.

Li Chengming stood on the rooftop, his pupils slightly constricted.

"The protective formation... In that case, while the evil cultivators can't escape, wouldn't we also be trapped?"

His gaze fell upon the five opposing figures in mid-air.

Kong Shaofeng stood at the forefront, his black fur coat fluttering in the night wind, his body radiating spiritual light, revealing his cultivation level as the ninth level of Qi Refining.

The two cultivators flanking him were also at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining.

The two figures in black robes opposite them hovered in the firelight, their bodies shrouded in wisps of blood, obscuring their faces. Only two crimson lights could be vaguely seen beneath their hoods.

"The Kong family."

One of the men in black robes spoke, his voice hoarse like a broken gong, "I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly."

Kong Shaofeng sneered:

"Moon Lake Market is the property of my Kong family. How can my Kong family stand idly by while you evil cultivators run rampant and harm rogue cultivators?"

"It's all for your own benefit, why make it sound so noble?" another evil cultivator chuckled.

"presumptuous!"

Kong Shaofeng roared, "You've committed murder and robbery in my market, and you still dare to spout such arrogant words!"

"Today, I will surely annihilate you all here to deter you wicked villains!"

After saying that, Kong Shaofeng raised his hand, and a long spear immediately appeared in his hand. Then, spiritual power surged around him, and blazing flames instantly wrapped around the spear.

In an instant, the rising flames condensed into a fire serpent.

Kong Shaofeng brandished his spear like a shooting star, the tip of which pierced straight for the evil cultivator's head.

Kong Shaofeng was, after all, a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining. Seeing the fire serpent coming towards them, the two evil cultivators dared not be careless at all and summoned their magic weapons.

One of the evil cultivators took out a bronze mirror, which shone with spiritual light. He held it horizontally in front of him, and a beam of white light shot out instantly.

"How dare you!"

Kong Shaofeng's eyes narrowed, and with a slight movement of the spear tip, the fire snake deftly bypassed the incoming white light and went straight for the bronze mirror.

"Bang!"

The bronze mirror shattered in the blink of an eye, losing its brilliance, and scattered fragments all over the ground.

Without pausing, Kong Shaofeng sent the fire snake several feet longer, which then lunged at the evil cultivator once more.

Although the bronze mirror only blocked the fire snake for a moment, it gave the evil cultivator enough time to react and adjust his position.